Pastors Worry AI Use Could Replace Guidance in Pews
Did you know, according to Barna Research, 60% of church leaders today use AI at least a few times a month? While this may not seem like a lot, many pastors worry that AI usage could soon replace their guidance in congregations all over the world. Why ask your pastor when you could ask artificial intelligence anything at any hour?
While AI certainly has its benefits, such as brainstorming, creativity, efficiency, fact-checking, and organization, many pastors are troubled by the impact of the device on current ministry. It’s not that AI is inherently bad, but pastors are worried about plagiarism, loss of trust with churches, and misinformation being shared as Gospel truth.
In Barna’s 2026 survey with Pushpay, Technology for Missional Impact: State of Church Tech 2026, 60% of pastors use AI for personal use at least a few times a month, but only 24% say they never use the technology. The issue here isn’t whether churches and pastors are using artificial intelligence, but how and for what they are using the information they receive.
The survey confirms that 51% of church leaders are “very concerned” about plagiarism and “compromised message integrity.” Despite these findings, however, most pastors say they haven’t yet used AI in their ministry (just their personal lives). 70% worry that this new technology could scar congregants’ trust in their leaders, but researchers believe this could be alleviated by clear guidance in the usage of AI in churches.
When weighing the pros and cons of AI, the researchers of the study added that “When it comes to fostering congregants’ connections to God and to each other, church leaders regard digital tools as supplemental, not essential.”
“Even so, as noted earlier, the operational benefits are clear: 78% say technology has made ministry life at least somewhat easier.”
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Originally published April 07, 2026.
